Bill's Walks

Titlington Pike and Kimmer Lough

Filed under: Other

Distance: 8 miles or 11 miles

Start: Eglingham Village (GR107195)

Click to view start position on Google Maps

Map : OS Explorer Map 332 – Alnwick and Amble, Craster and Whittingham

The weather forecast for the west and the Pennines was grim so after a brief discussion the five of us opted for a drier area according to the forecast. Without further ado we headed north to the village of Eglingham which is on the B6346 between Alnwick and Wooler. Some time ago we had started near here to go to Old Bewick, Blawearie and Ros Castle and this had proved to be a good day out. We took the opposite direction this time and although there was nearly 250 years of walking in the group of Alan, Clive, Les, Ray and myself the walk was all going to be on new paths which is extremely rare for us.

Eglingham is a pleasant village in good arable land yet close to the hills. The village church is dedicated to St Maurice which is not common although Ellingham to the north of Alnwick has a church also dedicated to St Maurice. Here the church has antiquity going back at least to the 13th Century. The local pub the Tankerville Arms serves quality food and keeps its beer in a prime condition.

The attraction of the walk was the high number of places on the map where there are markers for old forts and camps. To start the walk we headed along the road towards Wooler passing Eglingham Hall on the left. Some of this dates back to the 16th Century but the main building is from 1704. It is necessary to go to Eglingham Cottage about half a mile from the village. The barn at Cockhall which you pass on the right was built to give the appearance of a much older monastical building. We head off on a footpath having ignored the earlier bridleway on the left and cross two fields to the border of Great Wood. This is obviously a wood of some age which has been planted with conifers about 50 years ago but nevertheless you pass some magnificent beech trees on the edge of the wood. After a short while where the wood border does a 90 degree turn you enter the wood by a waymarked gate and head south-west for a short distance before exiting the wood. The view in front looks wet with reeds and has a small stream which is crossed by a bridge but presents no difficulty.

Ahead of you is open country leading up to Titlington Pike but we leave that for another day and continue on the bridleway still heading south-west on a clear track which eventually reaches the minor road. It was autumn when we were here and a large flock of bean geese were feeding in the stubble. How nice to see the stubble being left. Continue on through Beanley and at the crossroads turn left on a permitted track. This is a fine track which heads south, passing by a pond used for duck shooting, and later crosses a minor road near Shepherds Law. On reaching the open access under Titlington Pike the track turns west with many fine ash trees on either side, to reach a minor road. This is taken left round the pike to where the road for Titlington Mount is taken. This is an access road only and the farm reached in about one mile has been altered to include what appears to be holiday accommodation. On passing through the buildings the bridleway continues in a north-east direction with abundant pheasants around.

Here, looking across the valley to the south can be seen a structure called Jennys Lantern. One story has this as a place where the lady of the farm nearby lit a lantern to guide her husband home from the pub at Eglingham, which seems highly unlikely! A more probable explanation is that it is a folly erected by the landowner in the past. The hills here show settlements and a cup and ring marked stone although they are too far off route to visit on this walk. We enter the open access at a wood (GR107187) which is soon passed through to leave you on open moor. The hill off to the right was also the site of an ancient settlement which can be clearly seen. On breasting the hill you are looking down on the Eglingham Burn with Kimmer Lough below you to the right. These moors are very good for waders in spring. The path (hard to call it a track) is now heading north and after descending through a burnt area of gorse crosses a large reed area to arrive on pasture at GR118185 near to the road. The marsh area is a good site to see snipe which breed near here. If you only want a 8 mile walk you can head west here to Eglingham in just over a mile.

For a longer walk head east towards Kimmer Lough on a bridleway which passes close to it. If you want to get closer be prepared to get your feet wet! Lough is from the same derivation as loch and is Northumbrian with the main congregation being near to Hadrians Wall. The most southerly was in Gateshead on top of a hill at Beacon Lough.

Kimmer Lough is not visited often but holds plenty of perch and pike as well as yellow water lilies in summer. On the day of our visit it held a large flock of about sixty Canada Geese. The bridleway you are on crosses the outlet from the Lough and then you can follow the track to East Bolton. It is easier to stay on the track close to the wall than cross the field on the line of the bridleway and disturb the cattle which will probably be grazing there.

At East Bolton Farm head north-east for about half a mile to the bridleway at GR135169 where the bridleway is taken back towards Kimmer Lough. Opposite Shipley Moor at GR130178 go north-west over the reedy area (where the going is surprisingly good) to pass Bannamoor Farm on your right and arrive back at the point where you were earlier. The same direction is continued, quite close to the road, until Eglingham is reached. The waymarking here could be improved. It is necessary to cross the beck by a concrete bridge towards the right after passing through a gate in a wall and then take the opening into an area which looks like a small field or someones back garden. In fact it is village land where they have their bonfires and with the burn on your left you reach the road by a stile to find yourself next to the village hall where you may have parked your car. The other parking place is next to the church.

Postcript: We had a fine day. Our friends who went to the Pennines had a day of continuous rain. Well worth the effort!